inferno

noun

in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-(ˌ)nō 

plural infernos

: a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell

the inferno of war

also : an intense fire : conflagration

a raging inferno

Synonyms

• conflagration
• fire
• holocaust

Examples of inferno in a Sentence

By the time help arrived, the fire had grown to a raging inferno.

the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters

Recent Examples on the Web

The documentary captures a sheriff’s deputy reminiscing about her car slowing in the middle of an inferno as her tires melted. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

In between those stretches, Minnesota was a blazing inferno, hitting 20 of 35 attempts from beyond the arc to blitz the Lakers in Game 1. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2025

Tractor crews and hand crews were constructing fire lines to contain the inferno, Pickens County said in an update on its website. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2025

Sergeant Eshel and the others on duty died in the inferno. —Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, hell, from Late Latin infernus

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inferno

noun

in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-nō 

plural infernos

: a place or state that resembles or suggests hell especially in great heat or raging fire

Etymology

from Italian inferno "underworld, hell," from Latin infernus (same meaning), from earlier infernus (adjective) "lying beneath, in the lower regions"